Author Interview & Giveaway: FATAL STRIKE by DiAnn Mills

There are two important themes in this story: (1) how unforgiveness can make us bitter and the peace of embracing forgiveness and (2) the power of adoption in families and in the spiritual realm. Leah comes from a family that has embraced adoption, and both she and Jon go on a spiritual journey exploring what it means to be adopted into God’s family.

I’m fortunate to have forged a relationship with Houston’s FBI, and I’m a part of their FBI Houston Citizens Academy Alumni Association. In 2013, I was invited to take their 7-week course to learn about their various divisions. These sessions were taught by special agents who had either handled prominent cases or worked a specific division. Houston agents are incredible. I now work with a woman in Public Relations at FBI Headquarters in DC who answers all my questions. I’ve interviewed the agents who work the divisions in my stories for personal and professional input. Research can be difficult at times, but I believe in going straight to the source. The FBI, as well as other law enforcement agencies, want accuracy in our books and for the community to see them appropriately. 

I interviewed a gentleman who worked FBI SWAT. I learned so much about teamwork, the role of a negotiator, and the training. A sniper is used as a last resort when all other means of negotiation fail, and people are in danger. The sniper must be confident his or her shot will not hurt another person. Following a mission, the team discusses what went well, what went wrong, and how the operation could be improved.

First of all, I hate snakes. ☺ And I believe in writing what we fear. I knew I wanted a female FBI agent who also worked SWAT and had the role of a sniper. What if she were afraid of snakes? How would bad guys use rattlesnake venom? While a rattler bite is not always deadly, it is fatal (fatal strike) when injected into the heart. Plus, the bad guy leaves less evidence by eliminating the need to discard a knife or giving law enforcement an opportunity to trace a bullet.

Actually, there are two. (1) Leah faces her nemesis when she’s given what she thinks is a box of flowers and a rattler is inside. Loved her reaction. (2) Leah and her dad reunite after years of estrangement. I cried during that scene.

Writing Fatal Strike gave me a better understanding of the stress and pressure of those who are members of SWAT and those who specialize as snipers. Although I’ve written many books that include FBI and other law enforcement, this story gave me the opportunity to relate their responsibilities with faith. After searching the Scriptures, I see our God is just and righteous. If He calls a person into this type of career, He will equip the person with tools to handle the weight of their responsibilities.

I’m finishing up a book currently titled Airborne. A female FBI agent boards a plane in Houston for Salzburg, Austria. She needs a vacation to renew her relationship with God and to figure out her future. Her husband has moved out, wants a divorce, and he doesn’t know she’s pregnant. Two hours into the flight, symptoms become evident of a deadly virus onboard, and her husband, a bioengineer, becomes a person of interest.